When a {{trope}} which may have been perfectly ordinary on its own is used ''so'' famously by one particular show, its meaning gets changed. Instead of what the {{trope}} had meant before, it now means "{{Homage}} or parody of the show which used it famously." (Or, if you're less lucky, "Blatant rip-off of the show which used it famously.") Think of it as a kind of RealLife {{Flanderization}} of a {{trope}}.

This can get annoying for writers, since the {{trope}} may be a useful screen-metaphor in its own right, but they can't use it without creating unwanted associations.

See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, as well as WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a show for becoming well known for a {{trope}}, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a show uses what will eventually become a {{trope}}, but wasn't actually one at the time. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular show.

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When a {{trope}} trope which may have been perfectly ordinary on its own is used ''so'' famously by one particular show, its meaning gets changed. Instead of what the {{trope}} trope had meant before, it now means "{{Homage}} or parody of the show which used it famously." (Or, if you're less lucky, "Blatant rip-off of the show which used it famously.") Think of it as a kind of RealLife {{Flanderization}} of a {{trope}}.

trope.

This can get annoying for writers, since the {{trope}} trope may be a useful screen-metaphor in its own right, but they can't use it without creating unwanted associations.

See also FountainOfExpies for character-specific examples, as well as WholePlotReference. Compare TropeCodifier and TropeNamer, which both identify a show for becoming well known for a {{trope}}, trope, but not necessarily laying such claims on future use of it. Contrast UrExample, which is when a show uses what will eventually become a {{trope}}, trope, but wasn't actually one at the time. See also FollowTheLeader for intentional trope invocation based off of that one particular show.show.

* Any work that has a SuperMode - specifically a GoldenSuperMode [[PowerCrystal powered by a finite number of artifacts]] - will undoubtedly be compared to ''DragonBall''. ''SonicTheHedgehog'' is no stranger to this.

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* Any work that has a SuperMode - specifically a GoldenSuperMode [[PowerCrystal powered by a finite number of artifacts]] - will undoubtedly be compared to ''DragonBall''. ''SonicTheHedgehog'' ''Franchise/DragonBall''. ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' is no stranger to this.

* In the UK, any show using the BBCQuarry will be compared to ''Series/DoctorWho'', even though the series hardly uses it any more.

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* In the UK, any show using the BBCQuarry will be compared to ''Series/DoctorWho'', even though the series hardly uses it any more. [[TheNthDoctor Actor replacement]] will also be referred to as 'regeneration'.

* In a darker example, many tropes associated with UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler or [[ThoseWackyNazis the Nazis]] have become this due to the two's infamy, even if such tropes dated before them and originally had benign connotations. For example, the swastika was originally a symbol of good luck (and was created independently in several cultures) before it became specifically associated with the Nazi party, whereas the Bellamy salute was discontinued in the United States to avoid replicating the similar Nazi salute.

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* In a darker example, many tropes associated with UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler or [[ThoseWackyNazis the Nazis]] have become this due to the two's infamy, even if such tropes dated before them and originally had benign connotations. For example, the swastika was originally [[NonNaziSwastika a symbol of good luck luck]] (and was created independently in several cultures) before it became specifically associated with the Nazi party, whereas the Bellamy salute was discontinued in the United States to avoid replicating the similar Nazi salute.

* RashomonStyle is similarly characteristic of the film for which it is named, though since most Western viewers will never have actually seen ''Film/{{Rashomon}}'', you can get away with it so long as you throw in some LampshadeHanging to let the more culturally literate viewers know you're not trying to pass it off as your own idea.

Reason: That is a contradiction. If most Westerners haven't seen the film in question, then by definition it can't be this trope.

* ''FamilyMatters'': Though there are earlier famous examples, a character as flamboyantly nerdish as Steve Urkel, an ExtravertedNerd character often sparked comparisons to ''FamilyMatters'', for some time after the show.

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* ''FamilyMatters'': ''Series/FamilyMatters'': Though there are earlier famous examples, a character as flamboyantly nerdish as Steve Urkel, an ExtravertedNerd character often sparked comparisons to ''FamilyMatters'', ''Family Matters'', for some time after the show.

* Literature/TheBible is one of the most influential works in Western civilization, making [[BiblicalMotifs every notable trope it uses]] characteristic to it. [[UpToEleven This even happens to]] [[CrystalDragonJesus mythologies, religions, and works that have been developed independently from it]].

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* Literature/TheBible is one of the most influential works in Western civilization, making [[BiblicalMotifs every notable trope it uses]] characteristic to it. [[UpToEleven This even happens to]] [[CrystalDragonJesus [[HijackedByJesus mythologies, religions, and works that have been developed independently from it]].

* On that note: modern fantasy is so inextricably connected to Tolkien that--to quote fantasy author Terry Pratchett--"even if [the author/writer] has said 'Bugger me, I'm not going to write like Tolkien'", audiences usually associated some part of it with his writings.

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* On that note: modern fantasy is so inextricably connected to Tolkien Creator/JRRTolkien that--to quote fantasy author Terry Pratchett--"even Creator/TerryPratchett--"even if [the author/writer] has said 'Bugger me, I'm not going to write like Tolkien'", audiences usually associated some part of it with his writings.

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